Health and lifestyle blog looking at all the latest in health and fitness, with a special focus on staying active.

May 2013

05/30/2013

There seems to be a quite prevalent idea that some foods are 'good' for us, while others are 'bad' for us. But the truth is slightly more nuanced than that, and here's why:

Yes, it's true that, say, protein is good for us. But the human body is very cleverly designed. What it needs is enough protein. So protein's essential, never mind just good for us, but only up to a certain point, since the body can only store a certain amount of it. This is why there are daily recommended amounts for things like vitamins, minerals, calories and so on.

The same goes, of course, for vitamins. If for instance you didn't get enough Vitamin C, then you'd get scurvy. But your body works on a principle of getting enough nutrients rather than a mega amount of them - and if you took too much Vitamin C, you'd probably have an upset stomach and diarrhoea - your body can't store Vitamin C - it has to have a steady supply of it. Hence things like the 5 a day programme where you get 5 portions of fruit and veg a day.

And some of the things that are regarded as 'bad', such as fats, are actually essential too. It's just that there's so much fat in a lot of processed foods that many of us are apt to go beyond the recommended levels without even noticing.

One of the keys to healthy eating is to make sure you get a wide range of things - eating different fruits and vegetables and enjoying various types of meat, too. for an idea of how a balanced diet should break down, the eatwell plate should help give an idea. And the great thing is that - as long as your diet's balanced and you're not going over the limits - even things like cake have their place!

05/22/2013

The basics of dental health are very well promoted and pretty much anyone with an interest in the health sphere will know the steps to keeping up good oral hygiene as well as what dental cover such as this example here) can offer. Regular brushing, check ups and so on.

But as with all things health related, there’s always more that we can do in order to ensure that we keep our smiles in tip top condition, so we’ve compiled a list of the top 5 don’ts to watch out for in maintaining optimum oral health.

5 Don’t just concentrate on the surfaces when cleaning your teeth. It’s also important to floss, making sure you’re removing food and plaque in the spaces between each tooth.

4 Don’t overlook your diet. We all know that eating too many sugary snacks and knocking back too many sugary drinks can be bad for the teeth. But it’s also god to avoid too many things that stick to the teeth like maize snacks or certain types of dried fruit. And be sure to oncorprate things in your diet that will help keep your teeth strong and healthy, such as calcium rich dairy products like milk.

3 Don’t brush too soon after a meal. Eating food and drinking things like cola mean that your mouth needs time for the acid to neutralise. Brushing too soon can actually damage the surface of your teeth. Instead, try chewing gum which will freshen your breath, help dislodge any bits of food that have got stuck between the teeth, and also get the saliva flowing to help neutralise the acid.

2 Don’t smoke. Aside from all the other health risks associated with smoking, it’s also bad for oral health – it stains the teeth, can cause gum disease, and is also responsible for increased risk of various cancers.

1 Don’t forget that oral health and hygiene is more than just about cleaning the teeth. Paying attention to the gumline while cleaning is also important. Using mouthwash can also help kill bacteria in the mouth and help keep breath fresh, and if it’s a fluoride mouthwash you will also be helping to protect teeth against cavities.